11 Million Drams Damages Caused to Ptghunk Community

The investigation into the case of abuse of official powers by the head of the Ptghunk community has been completed at the Armavir regional investigative department of the Armenian Investigative Committee. This was reported by the Department of Information and Public Relations of the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

The investigation revealed and proved that the head of the Ptghunk community, who has held the mentioned position since 2012, was obliged to carry out the legal elimination of unauthorized constructions. While being aware of the violations of land use and protection identified by the inspections conducted by the State Urban Development, Technical and Fire Safety Inspection Authority, he failed to fulfill his service responsibilities due to personal and group interests, which negligently resulted in severe consequences.

As a result of conducted investigative and procedural actions, it was established that the community leader, being aware of the occupation of unauthorized structures and inter-community roads of community significance, did not take any action to legalize a building with an area of 1302.81 sq. m., without consolidating documents regarding the change of operational significance. As a result, the amount of 2,402,553 AMD, which should have been paid for legalization, was not deposited in the community budget, thereby causing significant damage to the legitimate interests of the Ptghunk community.

Furthermore, the community leader, changing the operational significance of a 0.0349-hectare plot of land belonging to a citizen, did not fulfill his duties regarding the construction of an unauthorized commercial kiosk. He made no efforts to legalize the unauthorized construction of a building with an area of 294.528 sq. m., resulting in the amount of 1,237,017 AMD not being deposited in the community budget.

Additionally, regarding a residential construction plot of 0.2205 hectares, belonging to a charitable foundation with the right of use, the community leader, being aware of the operation of unauthorized public buildings, intentionally made no efforts to legalize a public building with an area of 1848.9 sq. m. As a result, the amount of 7,765,380 AMD, which should have been paid for legalization, was not deposited in the community budget.

Based on the collected sufficient evidence, the community leader has been charged under the first part of Article 308 (2 episodes) and the second part of Article 308 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. A signature not to leave has been chosen as a preventive measure against him. The preliminary investigation has been completed, and the criminal case has been sent to court with an accusatory conclusion.

Notice: The person suspected or accused of the alleged crime is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court decision that has legal force, in accordance with the procedures established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia.